Kansas City Hospital

[pumpkin]

If you had to have a hospital birth in Kansas City (Johnson County, KS), what would be your preferred hospital?

What about if you knew you were having a c-section?


We may be moving to KC when I am about 34 weeks pregnant. We won't have much time to shop around, so any advice you have would be extremely appreciated.

[KatWrangler]

Talk to Abimommy.

[monkaha]

:

Being high-risk, I'm going with Overland Park Regional, since they have a NICU. They have a high c-section rate there, but whether that is because of the high number of high-risk patients they have there or because the docs there are more c-section fans, I don't know. Dr Tami Michaels (Nicholes? I'll check around to get the name right) is a very natural-birth friendly, hb'ed her own kids from what I hear, OB. She delivers at Olathe Medical Center. St Luke's South has a reputation of being very bf friendly.

Curious to see replies from other area moms.

[MaShroom]

I had my now 16 yo dd at OP Regional back when it was Humana. Of course that was a long time ago, but I had a good experience and have always heard good things about them. Best wishes to you!

[vue]

I delivered at Overland Park regional 1.5 years ago. I had to have a c-section at 37 weeks and babe was in the NICU for a week.

My experience was good and bad - I was happy with the anethesiologist and Drs and most nurses. The c-section went well, the after care was good. However, I honestly do not think my babe needed to be in NICU for a whole week - or maybe not even at all. He latched on immediately after birth but when it was time for the second feeding he didn't - they gave him maybe an hour to keep trying and then whisked him away and didn't let me see him for over nine hours.

I realize they have criteria that has to be met before releasing a baby but their criteria is a bit extreme to me. I spent as much time as possible in the NICU with him and was annoyed by nurses standing around gabbing instead of giving the babies attention. I never once saw a nurse holding a baby unless it was necessary for changing, feeding, etc. And I also believe that his being in there for a week is a partial cause of my PPD.

It's not that I wouldn't recommend them - I got good care. But I wish I was more demanding in what I felt should and should not have happened.

St. Lukes does have a good reputation - and I probably would have delivered there but they didn't take my insurance.

My Dr. was Margaret Estrin and I liked her - she is an OB at Women's Healthcare Group.

[monkaha]

Originally Posted by vue

I spent as much time as possible in the NICU with him and was annoyed by nurses standing around gabbing instead of giving the babies attention. I never once saw a nurse holding a baby unless it was necessary for changing, feeding, etc.
My Dr. was Margaret Estrin and I liked her - she is an OB at Women's Healthcare Group.

I worked a shift on mom/baby at OPR last week, and this, sadly, is the norm. I think part of this is that it is a hospital, and that's just how hospitals are, and partly because many nurses (like many people in general in this area) simply don't see the need. If a baby is quiet, why pick them up? If it's crying, what's wrong with just giving it a pacifier? I'm trying not to worry about this aspect of hospital birth too much, as I think it might make me crazy if I overobsess, but it niggles in the back of my mind, and I'm subconciously getting ready for a fight. : Not really how I wanted to prepare for birth.....

[vue]

Originally Posted by monkaha

I worked a shift on mom/baby at OPR last week, and this, sadly, is the norm. I think part of this is that it is a hospital, and that's just how hospitals are, and partly because many nurses (like many people in general in this area) simply don't see the need. If a baby is quiet, why pick them up? If it's crying, what's wrong with just giving it a pacifier? I'm trying not to worry about this aspect of hospital birth too much, as I think it might make me crazy if I overobsess, but it niggles in the back of my mind, and I'm subconciously getting ready for a fight. : Not really how I wanted to prepare for birth.....

You worked a shift - what do you do if I'm not being to personal?

See, I just don't get it. In this day and age it should be known information that babies adjust better, heal better and have better brain growth when they have human contact.

The only time I was separated from my baby was to eat, sleep and go to the bathroom. I felt so sad for the little tiny ones that had been in there for weeks on end - in those little incubators, just laying there.

But it's good to know about these things ahead of time so you can know how to speak up. If I could do it all over again I would not have let them take him to the NICU to begin with - at least not as quickly as they did. If they ended up having to I would have insisted that they let me go with him immediately. It was damaging to both of us to be separated for nine hours right after birth. I have a hard time finding my voice in stressful situations.

[monkaha]

I'm a nurse, an LPN. Since I'm an LPN, I can't truely work on L&D or mom/baby, but I can be a "helper" up there; pass pills and do tech stuff. Help people to their cars as they're being discharged and stuff. I prefer working med/surg because I can actually be a nurse, but needed the hours, plus thought it might be handy to know some of the folks up there and see what REALLY happens. Ignorance was bliss....

[gypsymomma4]

I don't live in the area anymore, but I had my first at Overland park regional 14 years ago. Other than my OB was out of town at time of delivery, and I didn't care for his partner, I had good care from my nurses. My OB was Dr. Mark Curry-whom I really liked alot. I was lucky my first wasn't early, and didn't need the NICU, they did give her a pacifier, while I was in surgery- I had 4th degree tears with her, as she came out fast, and sunny side up. but other than that I liked the hospital and was pleased with my care. In those days the hospital even used cloth diapers.

I would have had my 3rd there but my doctor was over at shawnee Mission medical center that day, and when he asked me to come in and be checked-I was in pre-term labor at the time, they decided to keep me. They did alot to make a nervous situation more comfortable. They walked with me and gave me a tour of the facilities, including the NICU as we were only 33 weeks. My son spent 9 days in their NICU-that was 2000, and I was very pleased with the quality of care. They let me stay in the hospital after my discharge so that I could be on-site all night for feedings-they would call me the moment he made a noise or every two hours-whichever came first. I was in the NICU night and day except for shift changes. Other than one doctor who was very worst case scenario with us-even though everything was going just fine, it was as pleasant an experience as it could be. My ob was Dr. Sherman, and while he could be a little gruff, he was a very good doctor, and he was there.

[monkaha]

You know, OPR does use cloth dipes (looked like nb prefolds) as burprags. I was half thinking of bringing some pins or a snappie and asking for extra burprags while there. Think they'd mind?

[madsommer]

I just had my son 12/07 at OP Regional and I really enjoyed my experience there. If you will be looking for a good group of OBs, Kansas City Women's Clinic has an office in the doctor's building next door. I saw 4 different doctors from that group (my original OB/GYN ended up being on maternity leave when I found out I was pg so I got a new one who was my OB for my pregnancy, saw another one because my OB was home with her sick daughter, then had another one deliver my baby who was so awesome) and I liked each and every one of them....I ended up using my OB's best friend as our pedi. Anywho, just chiming in with everyone else to say that I thought it was a good hospital.

[JessicaS]

I had my ds at Providence, which is in KCK. It was nicer than I thought it would be. The staff was all very nice.

We didn't anticipate ds would need to go into the NICU but he did, they transported him to Childrens Mercy downtown. Childrens is a great hospital. They had rooms we could stay in and they let us stay there 24-7 everyone was great.

One thing that the nurses said was that they didn't get many babies his size in there (he was term) and so he got a lot of extra attention. They *cannot* pick up or touch many of their patient because VERY little babies cannot handle very much contact. It stresses them out too badly.

It was VERY breastfeeding friendly. They did not say "do you want to breastfeed" they said "We are going to teach you how to pump"

Ds was on an IV at first but as soon as he could eat they let him nurse.

Are you VBACing? Not all of the hospitals will "take" a VBAC. St Luke's South will not.

[KatWrangler]

Originally Posted by abimommy

I had my ds at Providence, which is in KCK. It was nicer than I thought it would be. The staff was all very nice.

We didn't anticipate ds would need to go into the NICU but he did, they transported him to Childrens Mercy downtown. Childrens is a great hospital. They had rooms we could stay in and they let us stay there 24-7 everyone was great.

One thing that the nurses said was that they didn't get many babies his size in there (he was term) and so he got a lot of extra attention. They *cannot* pick up or touch many of their patient because VERY little babies cannot handle very much contact. It stresses them out too badly.

It was VERY breastfeeding friendly. They did not say "do you want to breastfeed" they said "We are going to teach you how to pump"

Ds was on an IV at first but as soon as he could eat they let him nurse.

Are you VBACing? Not all of the hospitals will "take" a VBAC. St Luke's South will not.

I have been very happy with Children's Mercy so far. Uh except the one Neurosurgeon. Didn't like him at all. So now we see Dr. Grant over at KU Med.

[JessicaS]

Originally Posted by KatWrangler

I have been very happy with Children's Mercy so far. Uh except the one Neurosurgeon. Didn't like him at all. So now we see Dr. Grant over at KU Med.

Really?

Herm, was there someone else there that you could request a different Dr? Not that KU Med is bad or anything..my IC Dr is there.

[erinbeth]

Originally Posted by monkaha

:

Being high-risk, I'm going with Overland Park Regional, since they have a NICU. They have a high c-section rate there, but whether that is because of the high number of high-risk patients they have there or because the docs there are more c-section fans, I don't know. Dr Tami Michaels (Nicholes? I'll check around to get the name right) is a very natural-birth friendly, hb'ed her own kids from what I hear, OB. She delivers at Olathe Medical Center. St Luke's South has a reputation of being very bf friendly.

Curious to see replies from other area moms.

I had baby #3 at OPR....Also because of their nicu. But I am a homebirthing Mama other than that. It was an OK experience. Our aftercare nurse was awesome.

[erinbeth]

Originally Posted by monkaha

You know, OPR does use cloth dipes (looked like nb prefolds) as burprags. I was half thinking of bringing some pins or a snappie and asking for extra burprags while there. Think they'd mind?

: I bet they would like it...

[wonderwife]

I delivered at Shawnee Mission Medical Center and loved it. All the nursing staff was so suportive and nice. Our birthing room had a jacuzzi tub that I used and it was awesome. Right after I sat in the tub and got back into bed my water broke on it's own.

[HydeParkB]

The OP has probably had her baby by now, but I'm wondering if anyone has had a baby at KU? And if they have a OBGYN they like that delivers there.

We went to Shawnee Mission and honestly I wasn't very happy with the care. Kicked me out in the morning saying I wasn't ready, took 6 tries to get an IV in, therefore couldn't get an epidural in time. They wouldn't let the baby stay with me and woke me up several times unnecessarily. Plus, the food was ick!

KU is so close to my house. And if experience serves as a predictor, I may not make it to Shawnee Mission if my water breaks at home. It will be a lot easier for my family if we are 10 minutes from home instead of 30-40 minutes from home.

[monkaha]

My understanding is that it is policy for new moms and babies to be separated for a couple of hours right after birth at KU. What about St. Luke's on the Plaza? Isn't that near KU too? (I only have a vague understanding of where the MO hospitals are, sorry!)

[HydeParkB]

Originally Posted by monkaha

What about St. Luke's on the Plaza? Isn't that near KU too? (I only have a vague understanding of where the MO hospitals are, sorry!)

St. Luke's isn't in our network. So unless I'm taken there by ambulance, insurance won't pay for it. But they are even closer.

My fear is that KU is even more "institutional" and less progressive than Shawnee Mission, but that's a hunch I was hoping was wrong.